Desperate search continues to find missing Tillicoultry hillwalker after rescuers discover rucksack

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A frantic rescue mission is ongoing to locate missing Tillicoultry man Charles Kelly, who failed to return home after walking in the Glencoe area last week.Mr Kelly, 56, was last known to be walking at the popular location after leaving his home in Tillicoultry on Wednesday, September 6, to go hillwalking.He last contacted his family around 8pm on Thursday and there has been no contact since.Dedicated volunteers from the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) and Oban Mountain Rescue Team have been scouring the nearby hillsides since Thursday but have so far been unable to find any indication as to where Mr Kelly is but they did recover a rucksack that he is believed to have taken with him.Nearly 20 people looked on Monday - including Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, the RAF and Police MRTs and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter.Brian Bathurst, deputy team leader of Glencoe MRT, revealed that Mr Kelly’s rucksack with clothing and some food in it had been found on Saturday down on 864 metre high Beinn Mhic Chasgaig.“It must have fallen about 350 metres as it is very steep there, but there was no sign of Mr Kelly,” he said. “The water bottles were empty and it has been very hot recently, so he may not have water and could be disorientated.“We have been over the ground with a fine tooth comb – used drones, search dogs and a helicopter and we can find no other trace of him.

The only thing we can think of is that he may have retraced his steps. Where he dropped the rucksack is really steep ground.“He parked his car at the Glencoe Ski Centre and was positively identified by staff there.

We do not believe he is that experienced a hillwalker and he is normally accompanied on his walks. He messaged his wife on Thursday, I